34 “I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. 35 This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.”
Reflection
Did you ever ponder why Jesus commanded us to love each other as he loves us? I honestly did not look at the scripture before as I do now. It is nice to see new meaning as life gives you more experiences and hopefully wisdom. To be clear though, I have seen some much younger people knock my socks off with what they know so, for me, you do not need to be a particular age for me to value what you have to say.
Our focus this week is lament and community. In verse 34 Jesus wants us to love like him which is amazing – if we can love even somewhat like Jesus we will stand out. But verse 35 says that everyone will know that you are my disciples. What that means is that we will, by extension, make God visible to the world. The heart of Jesus’ revelation of God is the way in which Jesus makes God’s love visible in and for the world.
When we recognize or experience injustice our words and actions can move us closer to God’s vision for humanity and stir us to work for change because of the love and compassion of Christ in us.
In my life I have have had the opportunity to rally, write opinions, or make phone calls concerning events that are harming people. If you have done things like this, you are letting God’s love shine in the world which is community.
Our church is a community. When we show God’s love for each other in our relationships with each other and when we participate in the community, it allows us to grow and then naturally want to reach out to community beyond our walls carrying God’s love. The love of Jesus is infectious and when we give ourselves the opportunity and time to feel it, we should be energized and attracted to respond in ways that make the world a better place.
by Clarence Beverage
For Pondering & Prayer
What grieves your heart today? The world is so full of things happening that can be very debilitating. It could be as simple as wanting a young child to be able to form new friendships or overcoming an impediment to severe illness, or one of the wars currently going on in the world. The more important question is, especially at this season of Lent, are you able to find time to connect with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit so that you can be strengthened and empowered with the Love of Christ available for you?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank you for being here with us and revealing God’s love to us. We know that our strength comes from you to manage difficult things in this life. We pray for the leading of your Spirit to find places where there is need and we can use the love and strength you have for us to make others’ lives better and by that, to further grow in love. Amen
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